Eyelid surgery is not only about aesthetic improvement. Eyelid plastic surgeons, called oculoplastic surgeons, perform dozens of procedures that have a functional rather than an aesthetic objective. The anatomy of the eyelids is exceptionally intricate, and effective eyelid surgery requires a thorough knowledge of this anatomy, especially when referring to reconstructive procedures. Eyelid surgeons, therefore, must have extensive surgical experience in the art of eyelid reconstructive surgery.
Reconstructive eyelid surgery addresses mostly two procedures: revision of complications of eyelid aesthetic procedures and reconstruction of the eyelids after treatment of cancer.
Revision of complications of eyelid aesthetic procedures
Like any plastic surgery operation, aesthetic eyelid procedures may have complications. Upper and lower eyelid surgery do wonders to rejuvenate the face but may go wrong on some occasions, and an eyelid specialist needs to step in to resolve the problem. For example, after a lower eyelid blepharoplasty to remove bags and dark circles, the patient may experience lower eyelid scarring and retraction. This complication not only causes extreme dry eye but can also cause psychological and emotional stress. Consequently, this case requires reconstructive surgery to restore normal eye anatomy and the function of the eyelids. The reconstructive surgeon removes the scar tissue and rearranges the supporting structures of the eyelid.
Another complication of aesthetic surgery is a condition called lagophthalmos in which too much skin is removed during an upper eyelid lift, and the patient is unable to close the eyelids fully. This complication also causes significant dry eye symptoms and puts the cornea at risk. In this case, the surgeon adds skin by placing a skin graft to allow the eyelid to close completely.
The complications mentioned are seen quite frequently in an oculoplastic surgeon’s practice. Fortunately, eyelid plastic surgeons have extensive experience in these kinds of operations and can help tremendously to restore eyelid function and appearance.
Reconstructive surgery after removal of eyelid cancer
Eyelid cancer is prevalent. If the cancer is detected early, the surgery to remove it is relatively simple. It requires removing a small fragment of the eyelid in a pentagonal shape and closing the eyelid. The patient loses no eyelashes, the function of the eyelid is maintained, and the contour remains normal. However, when the cancer is detected late, or it is very aggressive, a significant amount of tissue must be removed. In these cases, the reconstruction is very complex and requires skin flaps or grafts.
The surgeon has three objectives as he reconstructs the eyelids. The first and most important goal is to achieve complete removal of cancer without leaving behind any malignant cells. This objective is achieved by using surgical techniques such as Mohs surgery, or frozen section analysis. Second, the surgeon works to preserve the normal eyelid function after the procedure to ensure that the blink mechanism is preserved, and the surface of the eye remains protected. Third, the surgeon strives to achieve a good cosmetic result.
All of these goals are present at the forefront of the surgeon’s mind when treating eyelid cancer. Therefore, oculoplastic surgeons are the right specialists to seek in these scenarios.
For eyelid reconstructive procedures, seek an oculoplastic surgeon
Regardless of the reason, eyelid reconstructive surgery requires flawless technique and attention to detail. An oculoplastic surgeon is best equipped for this task because this is precisely what he specializes in. To achieve excellent results in eyelid reconstruction, the eyelid surgeon must complete years of training and have extensive experience in these types of operations. Therefore, when it comes to eyelid reconstruction, seek the expertise of a qualified oculoplastic surgeon.
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